Patches by the batches

The patches are a method of ingesting into the system monitored specific amounts of nicotine on a temporary basis to help alleviate the drastic physical upheavals caused by sudden nicotine deprivation.

Basically, the body has long ago adjusted itself to receiving a certain amount of nicotine on a daily basis, and when we stop giving it what it is now adjusted to receive, it throws the body out of kilter physically. (There is a mental and emotional deprivation, also.

So,the patch,while giving the body a reduced amount of nicotine, at least the severe dropoff becomes a little less and we are better able to handle it. The body gradually re-adjusts itself to existing in a calm manner withou any nicotine, but it is a slow process.And,the body does not like any kind of change,and fights it desperately.

Some others and myself found that the patches caused some eerie nighttime dreams, so we took to removing the patch at bedtime, and slapping a new one on first thing in the morning.

As,wellbutrin and Zyban hypered me instead of calming me down, they were not options for me. That may well be the same kind of a situation for you with the patches.

And, as for dosages,that would seem to be a combination of what works best for you, as long as nothing is over done.

For me, I was dropping off as near as I could figure from about 450 or more mgs of nicotine each day. So, the drop to 21 mg patch was too tough for this old body. So, for the first three days, I put a new patch on when I felt I really had to. At about 14 hours on day 1, 18 hours on day 2, and 21 hours on day 3. Then, standard dosage. Please keep in mind I had smoked over 2 packs a day for 48 years,and I was 69 years old when I quit.I don't recommend doing what I did, but I felt I had to do it.

The main thing that many of us witnessed here in KBCC, was the need to use the whole recommended time period, like 10 weeks for people starting on Step 1 (21 or 22 mgs). Those that did had a much higher success rate.

Starting 6 days prior to the step down dates,I started cutting off the equivalent of 1 mg, the next day the equivalent of 2 mg, etc., so that each day was a 1 mg stepdown until the next level was reached. I also did this at the end so the final stepdown for me was from 1 mg to zero. Made for very easy transitions. Smooth as silk.

If,you cut off the equivalent of 1 mg off a 21 mg patch, you are merely reducing the amount being ingested by abou 5 percent. The patches are uniformly impregnated with nicotine, so it is not as though you could be cutting the wrong area. And, they gradually lose potency and therefore are ingesting much less per hour during the latter hours of the 24 hours.

So,I would feel free to experiment-CAREFULLY. And, just maybe your body is not geared for patches. Like my body screamed at Zyban, so I bit the bullet and made it through without it.

Remember,both Zyban and the patches are only designed to ease all the discomforts of the withdrawal period. Patches for physical, and Zyban for emotional.

Have a great day and remember - We are tuff. We don't puff.

Non-smokin' Dave

Keep your hands busy - doodle, knit, type a letter. .Avoid people who smoke; spend more time with nonsmoking friends.

*Find activities that make smoking difficult (gardening, washing the car, taking a shower). Exercise to help knock out that urge; it will help you to feel and look good as well.

*Put something other than a cigarette in your mouth. Chew sugarless gum or nibble on a carrot or celery stick.

*Avoid places where smoking is permitted. Sit in the nonsmoking section in restaurants, trains, and planes.

*Reduce your consumption of alcohol, which often stimulates the desire to smoke. Try to have no more than one or two drinks at a party. Better yet, have a glass of juice, soda, or mineral water with a celery stick to nibble on.

*Reward yourself for not smoking - Congratulations are in order each time you get through the day without smoking. After a week, give yourself a pat on the back and a reward of some kind. Buy a new CD or treat yourself to a movie or concert. No matter how you do it, make sure you reward yourself in some way. It helps to remind yourself that what you're doing is important. 

*Use positive thoughts - If self-defeating thoughts start to creep in, remind yourself again that you're a nonsmoker, that you don't want to smoke, and that you have good reasons for it. Putting yourself down and trying to hold out through willpower alone are not effective coping techniques. Mobilize the power of positive thinking!